What is a baby swan called? | Reference.com What is a baby swan called? A: Quick Answer Baby swans are known as "cygnets," a word derived from the Latin word for swan, "cygnus." Cygnets are easily distinguished from adults, as they are much smaller and are usually covered in a gray downy coat. Full Answer A swan's brood usually consists of three to eight cygnets. Unlike the adults, which live on water plants, grains and grasses, cygnets eat aquatic insects and crustaceans, often catching these creatures as they are stirred up by the parent swans' foraging. Young swans are mature enough to form adult pair bonds as young as 20 months but usually do not begin nesting and raising cygnets of their own until they are 4 or 5 years old. The Trumpeter Swan Society Top Ten Threats to Trumpeter Swans Photograph by Jess Lee Our main office receives many e-mail inquiries, and often the questions are similar enough that we thought it best to put a few answers to frequently asked questions here.

However, please feel free to e-mail your questions to us and we will do our best to answer them, or find someone else who might know the answer. Are Trumpeter Swans an endangered species? In the 1960's, when the Federal Endangered Species Act came into being, the Trumpeter Swan was considered for this list. At about the same time, a nesting population of about 2,000 Trumpeters was discovered in Alaska. The species was then taken off the consideration list. However, various states list the Trumpeter as either state-threatened or state-endangered. What is a male swan called, a female swan? A male swan is called a Cob. The female is called a Pen and the young of the year are called cygnets. While male Trumpeters (21-38 pounds) are generally larger, weigh more than female Trumpeters (20-25 pounds), visually distinguishing the sexes is not possible without internal examination of the vent area. However, an observer can tell the sex of each bird of a pair by watching their behavior. It is only the female that incubates the eggs while the male will swim close by to protect the nest from predators.

In mating, the male mounts the female and grasps her neck with his bill. What do Trumpeter Swans eat? Adult swans eat aquatic vegetation, including the leaves, seeds, and roots of many types of pond weeds. In captivity, swans will eat corn and other grains provided. Wild swans have also adapted to field feeding, eating left over grains and vegetables that have been harvested by farmers. How many eggs do Trumpeter Swans lay? They lay, on the average, three to eight eggs. One egg is laid every other day until the clutch is complete. The Pen does not begin incubating until her clutch is complete so that all cygnets will hatch within 24 hours of each other. Only one clutch of eggs is laid per year. The incubation period is approximately 34 days. The swans build their nests out of stems and leaves from plants such as cattails and sedges. Trumpeters often nest on top of muskrat houses or beaver lodges. Will Trumpeter Swans remove the geese from my lake or pond? Only a mature, mated territorial nesting pair of Trumpeters will chase off (they might even kill) geese and other waterfowl in their nesting marsh.

However, this aggressive behavior is usually only exhibited during the nesting season March through October. At other times of the year, the swans will readily flock with the geese. Young swans or two swans of the same sex will not be as aggressive and generally will readily tolerate geese and other waterfowl at any time of year. Captive swans need open water year round and will need to be fed during the winter months which could attract waterfowl. Early in the season, a trained dog may be more effective to chase geese off the lawn. However, once the geese begin nesting, they are protected under Federal Migratory Bird law and may not be harrassed. In order to discourage geese ( and promote healthier wetlands), it is best to keep a good natural buffer around the pond, allow grass to grow long, and plant shrubs. Geese do not like to eat long grass! They love to eat freshly mowed grass. A fence barrier between your lawn and the lake should also discourage them. Geese prefer a clear runway to the pond and a clear view to spot potential predators. Finally, encourage your neighbors not to feed geese! What is a male swan called?

| Reference.com What is a male swan called? A: Quick Answer A male swan is called a cob. Male swans do not incubate the pen's eggs, but they swim close by and protect the nest from any predators. A female swan is called a pen, and their young are called cygnets. Full Answer Male swans are generally larger and heavier than female swans, weighing between 21 to 38 pounds. However, it is not possible to tell a male swan from a female swan without internally examining the bird's vent area. Swans lay three to eight eggs on average, one being laid every other day until the clutch is complete. Swans eat aquatic vegetation in the wild, but they eat corn and other grains in captivity. DNR - Frequently Asked Questions About Mute Swans DNR Frequently Asked Questions About Mute Swans Why are they called mute swans? Overall, they don't make very much noise, especially when comparing them to other native swans such as trumpeter swans. If they become aggravated, they are likely to hiss and beat their wings. What is an invasive species?

Invasive species are non-native species that become established, spread widely and cause harm to an ecosystem. Invasive species compete with native species for food and habitat, and can directly or indirectly kill or displace native species, degrade habitat and alter food webs. Invasive species can also have significant economic effects on waterfront property values, tourism, utilities and other industries. Are mute swans invasive, non-native, or both? Both. Mute swans are not native to Michigan, or to North America. They were brought to this country from Europe. Mute swans were introduced to this continent in the mid-1800s to adorn city parks and large estates. It is widely thought that all North American mute swan populations originated from the release or escape of individuals from these early captive flocks. Mute swans are invasive because they are non-native species that have become established and spread rapidly, causing negative impacts such as competition with native wildlife, displacement of native species and degradation of wetland habitat. Where are mute swans from? Mute swans were brought to the United States from Europe in the late 1800s. Mute swans that escaped from captivity have established populations in a number of states.

The mute swan population in Michigan originated from one pair introduced in Charlevoix County in 1919. Are mute swans in Michigan year-round? Yes. Most mute swans in Michigan do not migrate very far. They will stay in an area over winter as long as there is open water and a food source. How many mute swans are there in Michigan and how fast is the population growing? In 2010, the DNR estimated that there were approximately 15,500 mute swans in Michigan. That number had increased from about 5,700 in 2000. The DNR estimates that the mute swan population increases about 9-10 percent each year. Mute swan populations have the potential to increase rapidly if unchecked. Mute swans are relatively long-lived, contributing to their population growth. One study estimated the annual survival rate of young mute swans in Michigan ranged from 84-88 percent a year. From ages 4-8 years, annual survival increased to 93-98 percent per year. At age five, annual survival averaged 98 percent.

Although essentially non-migratory, survival rates remain high through winter because the swans move to warm water discharges and rivers. Mute swans can live up to 19 years in the wild, and breeding adults raise about five cygnets each year. Michigan now has one of the highest, if not the highest, populations of mute swans in North America. How does the DNR know how many mute swans there are? The mute swan population in Michigan is tracked twice yearly by the DNR. First, during a mid-winter waterfowl count conducted in early January, then by the Michigan Spring Breeding Waterfowl Survey conducted each April-May. Mute swan population estimates are derived each year using data from the Spring Breeding Waterfowl Survey. This is an established aerial survey that the DNR has participated in since 1991. Flights are conducted at low elevation, slow speeds and follow the same transect routes each year. The survey methodology used is scientifically sound and proven and used by other states and Canadian provinces. Why are mute swans a problem? Mute swans are a problem for three primary reasons: they pose a threat to humans, endanger native wildlife and destroy wetland habitat.

As the mute swan population continues to grow in Michigan, the damage and conflicts they create have long-term effects. Do mute swans attack humans? Yes. Mute swans are large, conspicuous birds and have little fear of humans. They are easily observed by the public and offer a chance for people to come in close contact with wildlife. Each year, the DNR gets reports of mute swan attacks on people in watercraft and on shore. These situations all pose potentially dangerous results, and as the mute swan population grows, so do the conflicts. Mute swans begin nesting in the early spring. Nesting mute swans can be very aggressive to humans who come too close to their territory. Mute swans will attack humans, especially small children, who get too close to their nest or young. Canoeists, kayakers and those operating personal watercraft have also been attacked when too close to mute swan territories. Mute swans are aggressive and may pose a danger to humans and can in certain situations effect human use of property when humans are excluded from nesting areas by swans defending their territories. How do mute swans endanger native wildlife species?

Mute swans are one of the world's most aggressive waterfowl species, especially during nesting and brood-rearing. Mute swans exhibit aggression toward other waterfowl and can displace native waterfowl from their nesting and feeding areas by attacking, injuring and even killing other birds. In Michigan, of particular concern are native breeding waterfowl and water birds such as trumpeter swans (state threatened), Canada geese, ducks, common loons (state threatened) and black terns (state special concern). Mute swans feed primarily on water plants. By feeding heavily on this food source, mute swans reduce the availability of these plants to native wildlife, and may ultimately reduce the carrying capacity of wetlands for native wildlife species including birds, mammals, amphibians and fish. Wildlife biologists have concern over the declining numbers of native duck species such as canvasbacks and scaup. These diving ducks feed on particular aquatic plants and are negatively impacted when mute swans reduce or eliminate this food source. Why is the native trumpeter swan important? The trumpeter swan is native to Michigan, and is on our state's threatened species list.

It has been on the road to recovery; however, the increasing presence of the invasive mute swan is threatening the breeding success of this native bird. To ensure the protection of the trumpeter swan, the mute swan population must be drastically reduced. The DNR's efforts to protect the trumpeter swan in Michigan are a commitment to the North American Trumpeter Swan Restoration Plan. Michigan's plans do not include a goal to increase trumpeter swan populations to a level that would sustain hunting. How can I tell the difference between mute and trumpeter swans? The most notable difference between mute swans and the two native swan species found in Michigan (trumpeter swan and tundra swan) is that adult mute swans have orange bills. The two native swans have black bills. Mute swans also have a black knob on the top of their bill, that is absent in the native swan species. Mute swans typically have an "S"-shaped curve to their neck, while trumpeter swans have a "C"-shaped curve. Mute swans are also generally quieter than trumpeter swans, which have a loud trumpet-like call. How do mute swans destroy wetland habitat?

Mute swans feed primarily on water plants. Adult mute swans consume large quantities of these plants (about four to eight pounds per swan per day) and often uproot more plants than they actually consume. As mute swans occupy habitat year-round in many locations, there is potential for depletion of this aquatic vegetation by continuous feeding. The wetland plants that mute swans remove play an important role in aquatic ecosystems by providing both food and cover to a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Many wildlife and fish species feed on animals that live in these plants and use the vegetation for nesting or shelter. When mute swans remove these plants, they can negatively alter the entire wetland ecosystem. What do mute swans eat? Mute swans feed primarily on aquatic plants such as pondweed, coontail, waterweed, wild rice and wild celery. What is the DNR's goal for mute swans? The DNR's short-term goal is to reduce the statewide mute swan population growth to zero by 2016. A longer-term goal is to reduce Michigan's mute swan population to less than 2,000 by 2030.

What can I do if I want to remove mute swans on my property? The DNR will issue landowners permits to remove mute swans and/or their nests and eggs. Contact your local DNR office and they can provide more information. Permits for removal of mute swans or mute swan nests/eggs may be issued at any time by the DNR for the following: public health, safety, or welfare; native and endangered/threatened species concerns; and stabilization of population levels/prevention of new populations. What can I do if there is an aggressive mute swan on my water body? Contact your local DNR office. Mute swans and their eggs and nests may be taken on public or private property by DNR personnel, local and state police agencies, and under a DNR permit to local units of government, private citizens or a contracted nuisance animal control firm at any time if they are endangering or about to endanger public health, safety or welfare. Is there a hunting season for mute swans in Michigan? No. Mute swans are protected under state law and can only be removed under a permit issued by the DNR. There are no plans to create a swan hunting season. How can I get a permit?

If you have mute swans on your property and wish to receive a permit to remove them or their nests and eggs, contact your local DNR office . If you have multiple landowners on your water body, you must submit a petition signed by 70 percent of the lakeshore owners or 70 percent of the shoreline ownership; or provide a resolution from an elected local government official (township, city, etc.) who represents the property owners on the body of water that approves mute swan control for that site. Do other conservation groups support mute swan control? There are many conservation groups that support the DNR's drastic reduction of mute swan numbers because of the negative impacts mute swan have native birds and wetland habitat. National Audubon Society, Michigan Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited are just a few organizations that have endorsed the reduction of mute swan populations. Why not just destroy mute swan nests and eggs instead of killing adult swans? The quickest, and most humane, way to drastically reduce the mute swan population is to decrease adult survivorship by killing adult birds.

Because of the mute swan's high reproductive potential and long life span, alternative control methods such as nest and egg destruction to decrease recruitment of young, are not very effective or efficient in reducing populations. The DNR and permittees have been destroying mute swan nests and eggs, and this has slowed the rate of population growth. The destruction of mute swan nests and eggs will continue and may be the optimal choice for some sites because of social considerations. However, nest and egg destruction alone will not lead to a significant reduction in mute swan numbers. Why can't the DNR relocate mute swans, both in and outside of Michigan? The Michigan DNR has a goal to drastically reduce the mute swan population in the next 20 years in order to protect native wildlife species and wetland habitats, as well as minimize dangerous conflicts with humans. Capture and relocation of mute swans would not only fail to solve the immediate problem, but may actually compound it. All of the feral populations of mute swans in North America originated from either the intentional release or accidental escape of mute swans in captivity. Given this history, it would be irresponsible to relocate mute swans to areas where they are not currently present.

Likewise, it would not be responsible for the DNR to attempt to solve our mute swan problem by relocating them to other states, either increasing existing populations or expanding the current range of the mute swan, which is already far too large. What is the Mute Swan Forum? In 2010, the DNR formed a Mute Swan Forum to discuss mute swan management activities in Michigan. The forum included a diverse group of organizations and agencies such as Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Audubon Society, Friends of the Detroit River, Kellogg Biological Station of Michigan State University, Rouge River Bird Observatory of the University of Michigan, Michigan Lake and Stream Association, Michigan Humane Society and the Detroit Zoological Society. The Mute Swan Forum agreed that increased actions needed to be taken to address the exponential growth of the mute swan population to protect the natural resources of this state. What will happen if we don't do anything about mute swans? Mute swans have a tremendous reproductive capacity and few natural predators. Without swift action, the DNR predicts that mute swan numbers could reach over 24,000 in just five years (by 2015).

If this happened, Michigan's native wildlife and wetlands would suffer, and there would be unacceptable levels of conflicts with people. Aren't mute swans legally protected under federal law? No. Mute swans are not federally protected. Federal protection was removed by the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act in 2004 because mute swans are not native to the United States. Therefore, the regulation of mute swans is the exclusive jurisdiction of the state, and mute swans are protected under Michigan law. The DNR allows the removal of mute swans and their nests and eggs through issuance of permits. What is the DNR doing to control mute swan numbers? The DNR has a Mute Swan Management and Control Policy and Procedures that outlines both short- and long-term population goals for mute swans in Michigan. Management of mute swans on both public and private lands is covered by these procedures, including issuance of permits for removal of mute swans (humane euthanasia) and their nests and eggs. DNR staff works closely with landowners to assist them in the permitting process and removal of mute swans.

On lands managed by the DNR (including state game and wildlife areas, state park and recreation areas, and state forest lands) there is a goal to eliminate mute swans and manage for native wildlife species and their habitats. DNR personnel are authorized to take mute swans and their nests and eggs. The DNR is working on developing and improving a number of outreach and education products to inform Michigan's citizens about mute swans and management goals. The DNR continues to monitor mute swan numbers throughout the state through a mid-winter waterfowl count conducted in early January, then by the Michigan Spring Breeding Waterfowl Survey conducted each April-May. Do other states manage mute swan populations? Yes. Most states in the eastern U.S. and mid-western U.S. control mute swans at some level. Most of these states have relatively small mute swan populations and use control activities to keep populations from increasing. Several states have mute swan management plans. Several states do not protect mute swans at all. Can the DNR kill mute swans on private lands? Only if the landowners have given the DNR permission and requested mute swan removal.

In most cases, the DNR will issue the site a permit for removal of mute swans. Permittees can be authorized to conduct control activities themselves or contract a licensed nuisance animal control firm. DNR staff is not likely to conduct mute swan control activities on private land unless it is removal of aggressive mute swans. Is the DNR going to kill all of the mute swans? No. The DNR has a long-term goal to reduce the population to a manageable level of less than 2,000 by 2030. Why is the DNR just now worried about controlling mute swans? Concerns over the expanding population of non-native mute swans were first expressed by the DNR in the 1960s and that concern continues today. Mute swan management activities have been taking place for decades at varying levels. Related Content EEK! - Critter Corner - The Trumpeter Swan The Trumpeter Swan A big, beautiful, white bird Snow-white trumpeter swans are a spectacular sight. With a wingspan of more than 7 feet and a height of about 4 feet, the trumpeter swan is the largest native waterfowl species in North America.

Trumpeters have broad, flat bills with fine tooth-like notches along the edges. This helps them strain aquatic plants and water as they feed. The birds' long necks and strong feet allow them to uproot plants in water up to 4 feet deep. They weigh between 21-30 pounds. Do you know the name for a male swan? The male swan is called a cob, the female is a pen; and a young swan in its first year of life is called a cygnet or juvenile. Trumpeter look-alikes The trumpeter is often confused with the more common tundra swan , the only other native swan found routinely in North America. Tundra swans can be seen in Wisconsin only during spring and fall migration. So how can you tell them apart? Look for the following. Trumpeter. The trumpeter swan has a deep, loud trumpet-like call. Tundra. The tundra swan has a high-pitched, quavering call that sounds more like a Canada goose. Both swans are white with black bills which makes it pretty tough to tell them apart, but there are some differences.

If you look at a side view of the two birds, you'll notice that the tundra swan's bill is slightly dish-shaped and smaller in proportion to its smoothly rounded head. The bill of the trumpeter looks heavy and somewhat wedge-shaped in proportion to its large, angular head. The best way to tell them apart is by their calls. There's another swan that can be confused with the trumpeter and that is the mute swan. This bird is not native to North America. European immigrants brought it to this country. It is found commonly along the East Coast of the United States and in scattered locations in the Midwest. The mute swan is considered to be an undesirable non-native species that harasses native waterfowl (ducks and geese) and uproots large amounts of aquatic vegetation. The mute swan is easily told apart from other swans by its orange bill and the prominent black, fleshy knob extending from the base of its bill to its forehead. Trumpeter habits and habitats Trumpeter swans may form pair bonds and nest as early as their second winter. But most nest when they are 3-6 years old. They mate for life and may live for 20 years or more.

If one member of a pair dies, the survivor finds another mate. Swans usually form pair bonds on their winter grounds. The pair migrates north in the spring to nest and sometimes arrives on the breeding grounds before the ice melts. Pairs may select a nesting spot that is the same as where the pen (female) was born. The female chooses the nest and the cob (male) defends it. If a pair spends at least two summers nesting at the same spot, it will form an almost unbreakable attachment to the site. Large, shallow wetlands, 1-3 feet deep, with a mix of vegetation and open water offer ideal swan nesting habitat. These locations provide the swans with underwater food like sago pondweed and water milfoil, as well as emergent (plants that stick out of the water) plants like arrowhead , bur reed, bulrush, sedges, and wild rice. Nest building begins in mid-April and lasts 1-2 weeks. Nests may reach diameters of 6 feet or more. That's quite a nest! Trumpeters often build their nests on top of muskrat or beaver lodges, or they pile sedges and cattail tubers into mounds.

The cob uproots vegetation and gives it to the pen, who piles it high. Then she uses her body to form a depression in the nest for her eggs. The same nest may be used year after year. Nests are usually surrounded by water. Can you guess why this is a good adaptation? It's difficult for many predators to sneak up on the pair. Beginning in late April or early May, the pen lays one off-white egg every other day until she lays between 5-9 eggs. The eggs are pretty big- 4 ï¿½ " long and 3" wide. The pen incubates the eggs and the cob protects the nest against intruders, including Canada geese . After 33 days of incubation, the young are born, hatching in late May or early June. They only weigh about 7 ounces. After a day or two, they take to the water and start feeding on plants and invertebrates. The cygnets grow fast. They are fully feathered by 9-10 weeks, although they can't fly until they are about 15 weeks old. By this time they weigh about 20 pounds.

In late September, the cygnets try out their wings with short flights. This helps them get ready for migrating south just before the temperature reaches freezing. Cygnets stay with their parents through their first winter, migrating back north to the breeding area in the spring. Shortly afterwards, they are driven away by their parents. The young stick together until they're about 2 years old. Then they seek mates and a new life in a remote marsh. Swan history Trumpeter swans were once fairly common throughout most of the northern United States and Canada. Market hunting and the use of swan skins in powder puffs and feathers in ladies hats rapidly reduced the number of nesting swans during the 19th century. Trumpeters nested in Minnesota and Wisconsin until the 1880s. In Wisconsin, trumpeters may have nested in all but the northeastern forested regions, most likely in large marshes or shallow lakes. By 1900, it was believed that the species had become extinct. Fortunately, a small, nonmigratory population survived in the remote mountain valleys of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. In 1935, the U.S.

government established Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Montana to protect the remaining trumpeter swans. With protection at the refuge and in Yellowstone National Park, the swans in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming increased to 640 birds by the late 1950s. In an effort to increase the swan population and improve their chances of survival, some trumpeters were moved to other areas with good swan habitat, including Hennepin Parks in Minnesota. Forty birds from the Red Rocks Lakes NWR formed the core of the Midwest's restoration effort in the late 1960s. We now know that in the 1930s when the Red Rock Lakes NWR was established, there was also a flock of trumpeter swans that survived in remote parts of Alaska and western Canada. Those flocks have grown a lot and now make up the most secure population of trumpeters in North America. These birds are found in the western United States. In 2012, Wisconsin biologists counted 214 nesting pairs of trumpeters. Swans Commentary: Dossiers: Swans, The Birds - thebirds Swans, The Birds For all of you inquiring minds, especially children.

by Gilles d'Aymery I frequently receive inquiries by e-mail regarding Swans, the birds. Most often, the queries come from pupils. They ask questions about the name of a mother Swan, the baby Swan, a group of Swans, and they invariably ask for pictures. I presume -- without assuming -- that they have some kind of homework to do for their next class; so, I constantly endeavor to answer each and every one of these e-mails. Why they end up on Swans is pretty easy to figure out. They get to the computer, hop on the Net and do a search on, guess what, Swans. Since we have about 1,000 pages (and counting), each with the word Swans in the URL, they land on the site, can't fathom what all this wordy gibberish is about, find the "contact" link and shoot a quick e-mail to your servitor. Quite possibly, their teachers failed to let them know that Swans was also known as Cygnus. How many of those teachers ever studied Latin? Your guess is as good as mine...

Anyway, in the spirit of the holidays and in the hope that I can answer all these questions for good (so that I need not repeat myself time and again), here it goes, with my very best wishes to all. The mother of a swan (female) is called a pen. The father of a swan (male) is called a cob. Young swans are called cygnets. A swan's beak is called a bill. Please check to learn about the different bills swans have. A group of swans is generally and generically called a flock of swans; but, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the correct appellation is a wedge of Swans (when they are flying in a "V" formation). I've also heard of a bevy of Swans but I am not certain this is correct. A bevy usually refers to a group of larks or quails. So, I am afraid that I can't bring a definite answer on this one. Here, on the Swans Commentary Web site, we refer to the flock; that is, the collective of writers and essayists who generously contribute their work on a bi-weekly basis.

Anyway, for those of you who wish to learn more about Group Names of Birds, please visit ; and you can also check out James Lipton's An Exaltation of Larks from your Public Library. Lipton describes in great details these collective nouns that have embellished the English language for centuries. So far as I was able to figure out in my short research there are seven different kinds of swans: The Black Swan; the Black-necked Swan; the Coscoroba Swan; the Mute Swan; the Tundra Swan; the Trumpeter Swan; and the Whooper Swan. More on them below. (I too am a Swan, albeit of a distinctive genre!) I am sorry if I cannot provide you with pictures of swans. Our site is not geared toward this function. We do have one though, and I am more than happy to show it to you. This picture was graciously given to us by its photographer whose name is Judy Swan. Judy lives in Florida. Her photograph is copyrighted; so, I have to ask you not to steal it. However, you can contact her directly and I am sure she will be most kind and allow you to use it for your school project.

Her e-mail address is swanfoto@atlantic.net. By the way, her photo features a Mute Swan... More information about the birds You may want to learn more about these gorgeous birds and see myriad pictures (always ask permission if you want to use the material displayed on the respective sites). So I have compiled a few links that you should feel free, and hopefully eager, to peruse and explore. Information about specific Swans: Mute Swan, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology 5500–14300 g Relative Size Among the largest of waterfowl: more than double the size of a Snow Goose and about the same size as a Trumpeter Swan. Other Names Cisne vulgar (Spanish) Cool Facts All of the Mute Swans in North America descended from swans imported from Europe from the mid 1800s through early 1900s to adorn large estates, city parks, and zoos. Escapees established breeding populations and are now established in the Northeast, Midatlantic, Great Lakes, and Pacific Northwest of the U.S. Mute Swans form long-lasting pair bonds.

Their reputation for monogamy along with their elegant white plumage has helped establish them as a symbol of love in many cultures. The Mute Swan is reported to mate for life. However, changing of mates does occur infrequently, and swans will remate if their partner dies. If a male loses his mate and pairs with a young female, she joins him on his territory. If he mates with an older female, they go to hers. If a female loses her mate, she remates quickly and usually chooses a younger male. The black knob at the base of the male Mute Swan's bill swells during the breeding season and becomes noticeably larger than the female's. The rest of the year the difference between the sexes is not obvious. Downy young Mute Swans (called cygnets) come in two color morphs: a gray form and a white form. The gray (or "Royal") chicks start off with gray down and grow in gray-brown and white feathers, giving them a mottled look. White (or "Polish") chicks have all white down and juvenal feathers. Adults of the white morph may have pink or gray legs and feet instead of black, but otherwise the adults look alike.

Mute Swans have enormous appetites. A Maryland study found they ate up to 8 pounds a day of submerged aquatic vegetation, removing food and habitat for other species faster than the grasses could recover. Give plenty of space to nesting Mute Swans. They can be extremely aggressive and frequently attack canoeists, kayakers, and pedestrians who wander too close to a nest or chicks. Hans Christian Andersen’s fairly tale The Ugly Duckling chronicles the woes and triumphs of a young, Mute Swan that hatches in a clutch of duck eggs but goes on to become a beautiful swan. Some speculate that the book was based on Andersen’s own less-than-handsome looks as a youngster. Mute Swans can adapt to degraded habitat and actually benefit from the spread of the invasive common reed Phragmites australis, which flourishes in disturbed sites. As the reeds spread into lakes and ponds, the swans can build nests farther offshore in the reed beds, where they’re safer from egg predators.

Based on banding records, the oldest known Mute Swan in North America was a male and at least 26 years, 9 months old when he was found in Rhode Island, the same state where he had been banded. Habitat Lake/Pond Mute Swans mainly eat aquatic vegetation, along with some animal prey including frogs, tadpoles, fish, snails, mollusks and insects. In a Michigan study swans ate more animals during their annual molt and in spring when vegetation was scarce. Plant foods include eelgrass, several species of pondweeds, along with filamentous algae, wigeon grass, sea lettuce, bladderwort, flowering grasses, and agricultural grains. They also eat handouts from people, including cracked corn, bread, lettuce, and produce trimmings. Mute Swans are voracious foragers, eating up to 8 pounds of aquatic plants a day that they tear off with their thick, rough-edged bills anchored by strong bill muscles. They skim plants from the surface and submerge all but their tail and feet to reach vegetation growing in deeper water. They also rake the bottom with their feet to expose tubers and dig up plants to bring to the surface.

Food Plants Mute Swans mainly eat aquatic vegetation, along with some animal prey including frogs, tadpoles, fish, snails, mollusks and insects. In a Michigan study swans ate more animals during their annual molt and in spring when vegetation was scarce. Plant foods include eelgrass, several species of pondweeds, along with filamentous algae, wigeon grass, sea lettuce, bladderwort, flowering grasses, and agricultural grains. They also eat handouts from people, including cracked corn, bread, lettuce, and produce trimmings. Mute Swans are voracious foragers, eating up to 8 pounds of aquatic plants a day that they tear off with their thick, rough-edged bills anchored by strong bill muscles. They skim plants from the surface and submerge all but their tail and feet to reach vegetation growing in deeper water. They also rake the bottom with their feet to expose tubers and dig up plants to bring to the surface. Behavior Dabbler Short legs placed well back on the body give Mute Swans an awkward walking gait, but the birds can run quickly if pursued and can take off from land and water, flying with head and neck extended.

On the water they sometimes hold their wings slightly raised and “sail” with the wind. Mute Swans are predominantly monogamous and form long-lasting breeding pairs. They are extremely aggressive in defending their breeding territory. Before or during landing at a breeding site they’ll slap the water with their feet to announce their arrival and alert potential intruders. If another swan approaches members of the pair raise their wings and tuck their neck in a “busking” display to warn them off. Territorial defenses sometimes escalate to fights between males that can end with the dominant bird pushing its rival underwater. Mute swans also chase off ducks, geese, gulls, dogs, and humans. The aggressive nature and enormous appetites of these nonnative birds pose a problem for wildlife managers: Mute Swans displace native species from breeding and foraging sites, and can damage feeding habitat by overgrazing aquatic vegetation status via IUCN Least Concern Mute Swan populations increased between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The species is not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List .

With few natural predators, numbers of these aggressive non-natives can build quickly, displace native species, and damage aquatic habitat by overgrazing vegetation, creating a dilemma for wildlife and habitat managers. In the Maryland region of Chesapeake Bay, Mute Swans drove the last colony of Black Skimmers off their breeding grounds and trampled Least Tern nests and nestlings on the bay’s sandbars. Mute Swans are also displacing Black Tern colonies in New York. A number of states have adapted measures—including addling eggs and culling birds—to control Mute Swan numbers, although these measures tend to generate public controversy. In Maryland, a population of over 4,000 had been reduced to fewer than 100 birds by 2012. Control efforts are also in place in the Central and Pacific Flyways, where wildlife managers are removing Mute Swans in efforts to reestablish Trumpeter Swan populations. Due in part to poor forward vision and maneuverability, Mute Swans are injured and killed by impacts with powerlines and other structures. They are also affected by lead poisoning from spent shot and fishing weights. Back to Top Credits Ciaranca, Michael A., Charles C.

Allin and Gwilym S. Jones. 1997. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) . In The Birds of North America Online, No. 273 (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Allen, J., and D. Strain. 2013. Aquatic invasive species in Chesapeake Bay: Mute Swan. Maryland Sea Grant Publication No. UM-SG-PI-2013-01. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee. 2014. State of the Birds 2014 Report . U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, DC. Black Swan Facts Australian Black Swan Facts Before European explorers had reached Australia, it was believed that all swans were white. Dutch mariner, Antounie Caen, was the first to be amazed at the sight of Australia’s Black swans on the Shark Bay in 1636. Explorer Willem de Vlamingh captured two of these creatures on Australia’s Swan River and returned with them to Europe to prove their existence.

From that point on, black swans and Australia have been closely linked. During the nineteenth century, the original Western Australian colony was called "the Swan River Settlement." In 1973, the black swan was officially proclaimed as the "bird emblem" of the Government of Western Australia and now appears on the state flag. Today, the black swan is still found in various wetland habitats in Australia, including the Murray River in the wine growing region South Eastern Australia. The Australian black species is a large waterfowl, weighing about six kilograms (20 pounds) and with a wingspan measuring two meters or longer. An elongated neck enables the black swan to reach deep into the water to feed on algae and other aquatic vegetation. The black swan builds its nests on islands or in vegetation in the water, typically lying up to six eggs. Both parents share in incubation of eggs, which takes about 35 days. Young swans, called cygnets, are covered in gray down for three to four weeks before their black feathers appear. SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION Drainage of marshy areas is the primary threat to this species survival but these birds are fairly common and widespread.

In Victoria and Tasmania they have caused such crop damage that the government has established short hunting seasons for the bird. Austin, G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press, Inc., 1961. Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained. UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. Johnsgard, P. Waterfowl: Their Biology and Natural History. London.University of London Press. 1968. Johnsgard, P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World. Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press. 1978. Palmer, R.S. (ed.). Handbook of North American Birds. Vol. 4. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988. Scott, P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World. Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988. Todd, F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego, Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996.

The Swan | Order of Bards and Druids Subfamily: Cygninae Species: Whooper, Trumpeter, Tundra, Mute, Black-necked, Black, Berwick, and Coscoroba A male swan is a cob; a female is a pen, and the young are called cygnets. Description Swans are the largest of the aquatic birds, closely related to the Goose. They are known for their grace and beauty and have long been considered ‘ornamental birds’ which float on ponds in zoos, parks, and botanical gardens. Swans are long necked and web-footed. The most common swan, the Mute Swan, is a large, all white bird with a pink bill that ends in a black knob. The bill of a swan is so sensitive that it serves as an underwater feeler. Swans have the longest neck of any bird, with 23-25 neck vertebrae. Swans have as many as 25,000 feathers. They are long-lived birds, and can live up to twenty years in the wild, even fifty years in captivity!

Habitat Swans prefer wetlands and land surrounded by water, where they build their nests on mounds. The Tundra swan builds its nest in the tundra wetlands, where they maintain a territory of one square mile and defend it from other swans. Swans prefer cooler environments and avoid extreme heat. The Tundra and Whooper nest all across northern America, the Arctic Islands and Northern Russia. The Black-necked and Coscoroba are found from Brazil southward. The Black Swan lives in Australia and New Zealand. The Mute Swan resides in Europe. Diet and Feeding Habits In the wild, swans feed on the starchy roots and tubers of aquatic plants. Their scissor- like bills have cutting edges that can tear at the underwater grasses. They can submerge from ten to twenty seconds at a time, and the Bewick Swans for up to thirty seconds. Due to the length of their long, sinewy necks, the birds can dip their heads by curving their necks into the water, and lay their chins flat on the bottom, continuously swallowing. For deeper waters, the swan will up-end itself to reach the bottom.

Swans can also eat grains on the land, but must jerk its head backwards to shake foot into its gullet. Most species of swan are vegetarian, but the Mute Swan has been known to eat fish. Swans have a gland just above their eyes that enables them to drink salt water. The gland removes salt from the water and concentrates it into a solution that is excreted from the nostrils, which the bird can shake its head to clear. In captivity, swans are fed wheat, barley, maize, lettuce, watercress, endive, cabbage, grass, and even biscuits and brown bread. Mating Swans will both display before mating, then mate for life. They are devoted to each other, and remain together throughout the year. They keep their young with them until they nest again, some staying through a second clutch. If one of a pair of swans dies, the survivor usually takes a new mate, and they form a dedicated pair. Breeding Swans usually mature in two to three years, and breed at around 3-4 years of age. The northern birds do not breed until their fifth or sixth year. Birds kept in captivity take much longer to establish a breeding pair.

In their bulky nests, females do most of the egg incubation. The average clutch is about five eggs, but may be as many as ten. Incubation lasts about 30 days. Cygnets first learn to float in the water, then start to fly in about 60-75 days. Swans molt in July and August, when their cygnets are too young to fly. Aggressive Behaviour Swans are powerful birds, they bite, and their beating wings can break a man’s arm. Swans display aggression by lowering their neck, hissing, and rushing forward. They protect their territories from strangers and other swans, although they will tolerate ducks and smaller fowl. Migration Swans migrate in winter, in flocks of twenty to forty birds. The cygnets travel in their parent’s flock for at least a year, in order to learn the route, where to feed, rest, etc. They have been clocked between 35-50 mph in the air, and prefer to fly at night. They can fly at heights of 28,000 feet, and travel over 2,000 miles, often over sea.

Diseases Around half of the young birds who nest in the far North perish on their migration south because they are forced to leave before they are strong enough. Swans are also susceptible to fungal diseases, particularly aspergillosis, parasites, and viruses. Folklore German Tale The Swan Maidens a traditional tale collected by Joseph Jacobs: There was once a hunter who spent his nights stalking deer, setting traps for game, and shooting birds with his bow and arrow. One day, near the lake he heard the whirring of wings in the sky, and took up his bow and arrow, ready to shoot what he thought were ducks. To his amazement, he saw seven stunning maidens, all clad in white feather robes. They alighted on the banks of the lake, took off their robes, and waded into the lake to bathe. The youngest and smallest of the maidens caught his eye - she was the most beautiful of them all. The hunter crept to the bushes where they’d left their swan robes, and stole the smallest bundle, and hid among the gnarled roots of an old tree.

After the maidens had sported in the lake to their heart’s delight, they came ashore to find their robes and be on their way. Alas, there were only six bundles, the smallest one was missing. They searched the lakeshore, the bushes, the woods, but found nothing. At last, near dawn, the elder sisters said with dismay, ‘We must away. It is almost dawn! You must meet your fate, whatever it may be’. Sadly the elder sisters donned their robes and flew away leaving their youngest sister behind, before the sun cracked over the horizon. The young hunter had hid himself well, and watched as the swan maidens searched, never finding his hiding place among the roots of an old tree. When the six swans flew away, he emerged from his hiding place and approached the beautiful young swan maiden. He had the feather robe held tightly against his chest. Seeing him, the woman begged him to return her property, for she was cold and alone. He handed her his cloak instead, but kept the feather robe, knowing she would fly away and be lost to him if he returned it.

He told her that he loved her, and would marry her, and she finally agreed, and he led her home. He hid away the feather robe behind the wainscoting, where his new wife would never find it. The years went by happily enough, and the lovely Swan Maiden produced two extraordinarily beautiful children, a boy and a girl. Their mother loved them with all her heart, but still longed for her sisters, and her freedom. One day, the children were playing hide and seek, and the girl found a new hiding place - behind the wainscoting. There, she discovered a beautiful white robe made of feathers, and forgetting the game, took it to show her mother. The Swan Maiden gazed at the robe in utter joy, laughing out loud, slipped it over her shoulders, and raised her glorious feathered arms to fly away back to her beloved sisters. But then she looked at her daughter’s puzzled face, and remembered her new family. ‘Tell father that if he wishes to see me again he must find me in the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon’, and raised her arms, and in a dazzling flash of brilliant white, she leapt to the sky and flew away.

When the hunter returned from his night’s work the next day, his children told him what had happened, and her last words to her daughter. The forlorn hunter left them to search for their mother, seeking the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. In his travels, he came across an old man who had fallen helpless to the ground. Helping him regain his seat, he tended the elderly man until he felt better. The hunter told man the story of his wife, the Swan Maiden, and asked him if he’d heard of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The man said, ‘No, but I will ask’, and gave a shrill whistle. Soon, all the beasts of the forest had assembled before them, for he was the King of Beasts. The old man inquired if they knew the whereabouts of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The animals looked at each other in puzzlement, for none had heard of this magical land. So the King of Beasts told the hunter, ‘You must seek my brother, the King of Birds. Surely he will know’, and told him where to find his brother.

The hunter found the King of Birds, who called for his avian subjects to gather, and asked them the same question, ‘Do you know of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon?’ None knew, and the Kings of Birds gave the hunter directions to yet another brother, the King of the Fishes. For surely he must know! At the seashore, the hunter found the King of the Fishes, and asked him if he knew the whereabouts of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The King of Fishes did not know, but obligingly called out over the sea for his subjects to gather, and put the question to them. None could answer the question, and the forlorn hunter was about to move on, when a dolphin called out from the sea that he knew. The hunter waded into the breakers and met with the dolphin who had swum in as close as he dared. ‘Though I have never seen it, I have heard tale of a Crystal Mountain near the Wild Forest. On top of that mountain in a place called the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon’.

Overjoyed, the hunter thanked the Dolphin, and the King of the Fishes, who directed him toward the Wild Forest. Just outside the forest, the hunter found two brothers quarrelling. Spotting him, the hunters approached him and asked him for a favour. ‘What is it?’ inquired the hunter. ‘Can you settle the dispute between us, so that our quarrel does not come to conflict?’ One brother asked. ‘Of course.’ Agreed the hunter. ‘Our father just died,’ explained the other brother, ‘ and left us two treasures. This cap, which renders the wearer invisible, and these shoes, which will carry you immediately to your destination, no matter how far away.’ He displayed the two items, a golden cap, and a pair of sturdy shoes. ‘As the elder son, I should have the first right of choice.’ One brother declared, ‘No, as the younger, I have the right to my father’s shoes!’ insisted the other. ‘Can you settle our dispute?’ the elder pleaded. The hunter puzzled for a moment, then an idea dawned on him. ‘There is only one way to settle the dispute.’ He pointed to a tree, off in the distance.

‘Race, both of you, to that great oak yonder. Whoever first returns to me, shall have first choice, and I will hand him his prize.’ And the hunter took up the cap and the shoes in his hands. Both brothers were pleased to agree and anxious to begin the race. ‘GO!’ cried the hunter, and they were off. As soon as their backs were turned, however, the clever hunter placed the cap upon his own head, and the shoes up his feet. He whispered to the shoes, ‘Take me to the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon.’ And off he flew, over seven bends, over seven glens, and over seven mountain moors, until he came at last to the Crystal Mountain. The shoes transported him to the top of the mountain, and he found himself in the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Taking off his magic apparel, he found someone who ruled this land, and was told, ‘There is a king with seven daughters, swan maidens, who could fly wherever they wish.’ He pointed his way to the castle, and the hunter, knowing this was the land of his wife’s origin, strode to the castle and entered the Great Hall.

There sat the king on his wooden throne. The hunter boldly approached the king and said, ‘Greetings, O King. I have come to seek my wife.’ The king asked, ‘Who is she?’ The hunter said, ‘Your youngest daughter.’ And proceeded to tell him how he had discovered her, fallen in love, and won her as his bride. Unconvinced, the king laughed, and declared, ‘If you can tell your bride from her six sisters, then I shall believe you.’ The king summoned his seven daughters. When they arrived, they were all dressed alike in their white feathered robes, looking like a bevy of beautiful swans. The hunter looked at them in dismay, but then remembered something, and a gleam came into his eye. ‘May I take each of them by the hand for a moment, for surely then I will know my wife.’ ‘I see no harm in it.’ Agreed the King. Taking the hand of each lovely maiden, whose beautiful face was hidden in the folds of the downy white hoods, at last he felt one that he knew to be his wife.

She had sewn the clothing of her children, and his own shirts and trousers for all the years they were together, and the forefinger of her right hand was calloused from the needle. Astonished, the king examined his daughter’s hand. ‘It’s true! And I am a man of my word.’ Whereupon the king sent them off with many a treasure and sent them home. When they arrived home the happy hunter allowed his wife to keep her snowy feather robes to visit her father and sisters, as long as she promised to always return to him. And so lived happily together ever afterwards. (European Folk and Fairy Tales, no. 12, pp. 98-104) Danish Tale The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Andersen. An awkward young cygnet, is called an ugly duckling by the other young waterfowl in the lake. Seeing his reflection in the watery surface, he can’t help but agree, and hangs his young head in shame. The other birds refuse to play with the pathetic creature, and he is left to himself.

At last his mother finds him, and assures him that this phase will pass, and he will grow into the most beautiful bird of all - a magnificent snowy white swan. And as time passes, so he does. This is a familiar tale for every child, reassuring them that beauty is from within, and not a matter of outward appearance. This healing tale has been told for over a century, to children who feel isolated, or that they don’t fit in, teaching them to look within to find their own inner beauty and radiate it. When their time comes, they will be transformed, and have the grace, beauty and eloquence of a majestic white swan. Native American In Navajo tradition, the Great White Swan can call up the Four Winds. The Great Spirit will use swans to work its will. Australian The aborigines saw the Black Swans as the wives of their All Father. Japan In Ainu folk tales, the swan was an angelic bird who lived in heaven. When the Ainu fought amongst themselves killing all but one boy, the Swan descended from heaven, transformed into a woman, and reared the boy to manhood. She then married him to preserve the Ainu race.

India It was the swan that lay the Cosmic Egg on the waters, from which Brahma sprang. The Swan was the vehicle of Brahma’s wife, Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom, Education, and Music. In Hindu tradition, swans represent the perfect union, and the spirit of Brahma. Greek In Greek tradition, the Swan is the symbol of the Muses. The swan also has erotic connotations - Zeus seduced Leda in the form of a swan, and Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, had a swan-drawn chariot. The swan, as a symbol of music, is also dedicated to Apollo, who was said to transform into a swan. Socrates wrote that the swan sung it’s most beautiful song just before it died, leaving us with the phrase ‘swan song’. The constellation Cygnus, depicts a swan sailing down the Milky Way. Serbia The Vila, Serbian nymphs, take the shape of swans and serpents. Norse The Norse Valkyries often take the shape of swans and they fly, singing, through the air.

Russia Swan Maidens were the subject of the Russian composer, Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Swan Lake. England Tradition According to Ted Andrews, in Animal-Speak, ‘The swan is one of the most powerful and ancient of totems. It is one of the oldest names in the English language and has come down unchanged since Anglo Saxon times.’ (page 195) In Britain, Mute Swans are the property of the Crown. The Crown may grant ‘royalties’ or ownership rights to companies or individuals, where they mark their swan’s bills during the ceremony of ‘swan-upping’. Boat builders used swans as figureheads to bring good luck. Celtic Tradition In Celtic tradition the Swan is associated with deities of healing waters and the sun. They are associated with music, love, purity and the soul. They are shape-shifters, can take human form, and have mastered the elements of water, earth and air. They can always be recognized by the gold or silver chain that hangs around their neck. Among Druids, the Swan represents the soul, and is associated with the Festival of Samhain. The swan aids us in traveling to the Otherworld.

Swans are also sacred to Bards, and their skin and feathers were used to make the tugen, the ceremonial Bardic Cloak. Irish tales Swans appear throughout Irish folklore. An Otherworldly bird, they are often the disguise of Fairy Women. At certain times of year, a swan maiden can transform herself back into a human, such as Summer Solstice, Beltaine or Samhain, when the veils between the worlds are thin. The White Swans of the Wilderness were children of the Tuatha de Danaan, who settled Ireland, and became the sidhe after the invasion of the Milesians. The night Cuchulainn was born, a pair of swans wearing Otherworldly silver chains attacked Emain Macha. In a later tale, the Princess Derbforgaill fell in love with Cuchulainn, and transformed herself and her maidens into swans to be near him. A hunter by nature, he threw a stone at one, none other than Derbforgaill herself, and brought her down. She transformed back into a woman, and lay bleeding at his feet.

Cuchulainn restored her, sucking some of her blood, which rendered him unable to take her as his bride. She subsequently married his son. In The Dream of Angus Og, the young God fell in love with a woman he saw in his dream, named Caer. So great is his longing for her, that he grew ill. He set out to search for her, and discovered that she is no dream, but a mortal woman under enchantment. She and her sisters are transformed into swans at Samhain, and must remain so for six months, until Beltain. Angus found her at Loch Gel Dracon, where the transformation took place. When he arrived, there were 150 swans, all with Otherworldly silver chains around their necks, and he could not distinguish Caer from the others. Cuchulainn then called out to her, changing into a swan himself. In that shape, he recognized his beloved, and they flew off together, chanting such ethereal music that all who heard it fell into unconsciousness for three days and nights. He brought her home to Brugh na Boinne (Newgrange). The Children of Lir is the most marvelous swan tale of all.

An Irish princess’s four brothers were condemned to live as swans for eternity by their jealous step mother, Aoifa, the wife of King Lir. The princess’s only hope is to remain mute for seven years while she wove four shirts of flax for her brothers, which will break the enchantment. There are several variations of this tale. In another variation, they were swans for 900 years, and when they were transformed back to humans, upon being baptized by St. Kernoc, the priest of the new religion, and they fell to the earth dead (but their souls were saved). Native American Tradition According to Jamie Sams and David Carson, who collected Native American tales from elders in the Choctaw, Lakota, Seneca, Aztec, Yaqui, Cheyenne, Cherokee, Iroquois, and Mayan traditions, Swans represented ‘Grace’. Swan tells Dragonfly in legend, ‘I learned to surrender my body to the power of Spirit and was taken to where the future lives. I saw many wonders high on Sacred Mountains and because of my faith and my acceptance I have been changed.

I have learned to accept the state of grace.’ Swan is the bird who may enter the Dreamtime and bring back knowledge and healing to the tribe. Swan medicine ‘teaches us to be at one with all planes of consciousness, and to trust in Great Spirit’s protection.’ (Medicine Cards, pages 192-195) Totem The swan is a totem of beauty and grace. As in the story of the Ugly Duckling, it connotes inner beauty as well. If Swan is your totem animal, you are emotionally sensitive, and empathic towards the feelings of others, and you draw people to you. The pure white swan is a solar symbol, whereas the Australian Black Swan is a nocturnal symbol. The swan, with its long neck, acts as a bridge between the worlds, making it an oracular bird. Being a cool weather bird, its direction is North. Swans are excellent totems for children, those connected to the Fairy Realm, poets, bards, mystics, and dreamers. (Animal Speak, page 196) Healing The swan is master of the elements Earth, Air and Water, and is an excellent guide to the therapeutic powers of these elements.

Many healers use a swan feather in smudging and healing ceremonies. A swan feather tied to an instrument such as a harp would be a powerful adjunct to music therapy. Oracle Pulling the Swan card tells you to ‘accept your ability to know what lies ahead, pay attention to your hunches, gut knowledge, and female intuitive side.’ (Medicine Cards, page 194) Reversed, the Swan card means you are not grounded, not paying attention to your intuition, or the Unseen. The authors suggest that you ‘notice your surroundings, and touch the Earth; be still and focus on one reality or the other - the Dreamtime or the mundane world; stop the clutter in your mind and listen; or focus on a physical activity that will ground you.’(Medicine Cards, page 195) In Celtic lore, pulling the swan card can mean poetic inspiration from the Otherworld. It can also mean an enduring love is entering into your life. Many swan tales have to do with sad partings, separation, and suffering loss with grace. Swan can be a symbol of transformation. Swan often indicates a soul level experience about to commence.

Bibliography Celtic Totem Animals, by John Matthews, Red Wheel Press, Boston, MA, 2002 Medicine Cards, by Jamie Sams and David Carson, St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1999 The Druid Animal Oracle by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, A Fireside Book, London, 1994 Animal-Speak, the Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small, by Ted Andrews, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, 1994 Sevenwaters Trilogy, (Daughter of the Forest, Son of the Shadows, and Child of the Prophecy) by Juliet Marillier, Tor Fantasy, New York, 2000 (a fiction based on The Children of Lir) European Folk and Fairy Tales, by Joseph Jacobs, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1916, no. 12, pp. 98-104. Symbolic and Mythical Animals, by J. C. Cooper, Aquarian/Thorsons, London, 1992

Question: What is a young swan called?
Answer: Cygnet